Marriage Roulette: 7 Factors That Dramatically Increase Your Odds of Winning

BJ Brittain
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9780595365838
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (11/06)


"Marriage Roulette" is a great commonsense approach to anyone who is considering getting married.  The author, BJ Brittain writes in the introduction "My research has been qualitative, not quantitative, and I make no claim to its scientific reliability.  As one who fully appreciates the differences in the softer qualitative approach and the harder quantitative one, the topic of marriage success and failure seems to beg for the more nuanced technique of the former.  I believe that my efforts have resulted in a decidedly commonsense outcome, one that will stand the scrutiny of others who explore this topic."  I completely agree with him and the result is a very well written short book that offers sound advice, great examples and two very insightful quizzes.

Brittain speaks from experience with an unsuccessful first marriage and a very happy, second marriage.  He decided to write this book as his children began reaching marriage age.  It is broken down into 7 match factors and 3 rules for reading this book.  The first rule is do not complete the Marriage Quiz until you have read Chapters 1-8, the second being that both of the partners have to be involved and the third is don't cheat!

The match factors are simple, yet effective.

1.  Mutual respect.
2.  Perfect mate myth.
3.  Opposites attract and repel.
4.  Comparing the partner’s intellectual/emotional/maturity levels.
5   Conflict resolution.
6.  Sense of humor.
7.  Intimacy

The book is a short read, only 44 pages long.  Overall, "Marriage Roulette" is a great tool for couples considering marriage.  It will definitely be part of any engagement gift that I give.  I only wish it had been around before my first marriage, I would not have passed the quizzes.   Maybe next time........

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